Northwestern NM war vet to be Libertarian candidate in CD1 race
Reforming health insurance, immigration among priorities
A war veteran who works as a staff auditor for a Farmington accounting business will be the Libertarian candidate in the special election to fill New Mexico’s vacant seat in the House of Representatives.
Chris Manning, 37, will be the Libertarian on the ticket after being nominated by the party during a special convention over the weekend, according to a news release from the Libertarian Party of New Mexico.
“He’s young and energetic, committed to the social reforms Libertarians value and the fiscal responsibility we also promote,” said Chris Luchini, chairman of the state Libertarian Party. “The membership could not have chosen a better candidate to run in this special election.”
Manning grew up in Kirtland and graduated from Arizona State University. He served six years in the Arizona National Guard, during which he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 to 2008.
“I’m honored to be selected by the Libertarian Party of New Mexico to campaign for this House of Representatives seat,” Manning said.
Manning said in a news release that the pressing issues he will address if elected include health insurance reform, ending the war in Afghanistan and other
unnecessary wars and reforming immigration policies.
“I think the pandemic exposed the weakness of our health care system, and many people lost their health insurance due to the pandemic or government action, and I want to make sure that doesn’t happen in the future,” Manning said.
Manning lives in Farmington, which is not in the 1st Congressional District. CD1 covers most of Bernalillo County, all of Torrance County and surrounding areas.
The U.S. Constitution requires that members of the House of Representatives live in the state they represent but not necessarily the same district.
The district’s seat is vacant after Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland resigned when she was confirmed to the Cabinet post.
The election will be June 1. State Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, will be the Republican candidate.
The Democratic candidate is scheduled to be selected by the party’s state central committee Tuesday.